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Topic Review (Newest First)

06-08-2015 11:37 PM

Skeeter334

This is my 2013 mk3 se with 35% all the way around and it looks dark from the outside but in bama 20% or 5% is the way to go

06-08-2015 10:09 PM

Brindfan

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonMaiden

Move to Colorado,we have a 27% limit on all windows (I have 20%,15% on back window on my Focus,same on the STI,15% on my truck) and I've been pulled over 20x in 25 years and not once was my tint ever mentioned but it does help to roll down all the windows on the side the cop is approaching and maybe even have your dome lights on since then the cop isn't concerned about your windows and you gave him the courtesy of making him feel safer.

I have friends that have limo tint, (5%) on their cars and have never been pulled over for it here in CO. Just stay out of the town of Mountain View and you will be fine.

That said, you can likely fight the ticket and win, but that doesn't mean you won't be pulled over again and have to fight it again in court - at some point it just isn't worth the hassle.

Quote:

So, if you take off the tint you get to speed? That's not such a bad trade.

Works out that way ...

Tint is more likely to be stopped for speeding.

Sporty car - Mustang - is more likely to be stopped for speeding than non-sporty car - Taurus.

Etc.

06-08-2015 02:18 AM

RonMaiden

Move to Colorado,we have a 27% limit on all windows (I have 20%,15% on back window on my Focus,same on the STI,15% on my truck) and I've been pulled over 20x in 25 years and not once was my tint ever mentioned but it does help to roll down all the windows on the side the cop is approaching and maybe even have your dome lights on since then the cop isn't concerned about your windows and you gave him the courtesy of making him feel safer.

06-07-2015 08:25 PM

BrianR815

I have 20% in PA and have been pulled over once by a state trooper on I-80 in the mountains. I received a warning for the tint. But I found it quite comical because I was doing 95 in a 70 and he says "sir I pulled you over because you have tinted windows." My wife and I had a good laugh about that.

06-06-2015 11:19 PM

Brindfan

Quote:

Originally Posted by drifter2000

That is where the issue is. In the state of Pa, the law states that it must allow 70% of light within the cabin of the vehicle. Then it also states as long as the cabin can be seen into, it is considered legal, I'm paraphrasing.

Mine was dark, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't as dark as others or some factory tinted windows. You could see me thru it, hell people would comment that it wasn't dark enough to hide the baby seat in the back. haha

I understand what you are saying, the problem I have is that an officer should be more concerned about actual issues that could cause accidents or people endangering others lives. Go catch a speeder, or a donut. If my only offense is that I have tint on my windows, leave me the hell alone.

Here are the sections of the PA Motor Vehicle Code and the Motor Vehicle Inspection Regulations dealing with sun screening products.

Note that only sunscreening "which does not permit a person to see or view the inside of the vehicle" is prohibited.

If (e) (1) really prohibited all sun screening, then even out of state drivers who complied with all State and Federal Laws would be prohibited from driving in PA. If the Federal Government and other States permits something related to interstate commerce, PA cannot restrict it in that manner.

The Inspection Regulations, in accordance with the Vehicle Code, do not prohibit sun-screening unless it is non-transparent, meaning you cannot see through it.

Although the term transparent might seem vague, the Regulations in Appendix C further define Reflectance and Transmittance, and permit sun screening with a reflectance of 35% or less.

PA Motor Vehicle Code

Ch. 45 75 Section 4524 (e)(1)

(e) Sun screening and other materials prohibited.

(1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sun screening device or other material which does not permit a person to see or view the inside of the vehicle through the windshield, side wing or side window of the vehicle.

(2) This subsection does not apply to:

(i) A vehicle which is equipped with tinted windows of the type and specification that were installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle or to any hearse, ambulance, government vehicle or any other vehicle for which a currently valid certificate of exemption has been issued in accordance with regulations adopted by the department.

(ii) A vehicle which is equipped with tinted windows, sun screening devices or other materials which comply with all applicable Federal regulations and for which a currently valid certificate of exemption for medical reasons has been issued in accordance with regulations adopted by the department.

(3) A certificate of exemption shall be issued by the department for a vehicle which is:

(i) Registered in this Commonwealth on the effective date of this subsection and is equipped with a sun screening device or other material prohibited under paragraph (I) on the effective date.

(ii) Equipped with tinted windows, sun screening devices or other materials for a physical condition that makes it necessary to equip the motor vehicle with sun screening material which would be of a light transmittance or luminous reflectance in violation of this section.

(A) A certificate of exemption for medical reasons shall be issued only if the owner or registrant of the vehicle, or a person residing in the household of the owner or registrant who regularly drives or is driven in the vehicle, suffers from a physical condition deter-mined by the department, in consultation with the Medical Advisory Board, to justify the exemption.

(B) Any person requesting an exemption for medical reasons shall have his physical condition certified to the department by a licensed physician or optometrist.

(4) A certificate of exemption issued under this subsection shall be carried in the vehicle and displayed on request of a police officer.

(5) Upon the sale or transfer of the vehicle to any person who does not qualify under paragraph (2)(ii), the exemption shall be null and void. Prior to the sale or transfer of an exempt vehicle, it shall be the sole responsibility of !he owner or seller of a formerly exempt vehicle to remove all sun screening or other materials from the vehicle. At the time of the sale or transfer of a formerly exempt vehicle, the owner shall remove and destroy the certificate of exemption for physical reasons and provide the purchaser with a notarized statement setting forth the name and address of the owner or seller, the vehicle identification number, year and model, and the business entity and process used to remove the sun screening or other material.

PA STATE INSPECTION PROCEDURES Section 175.80

(2) Check glazing.

(i) Check glazing and REJECT IF any of the following apply:

(A) Approved safety glazing is not used in every windshield, window or wing.

(B) Any sign, poster or other non-transparent material obstructs, obscures or impairs driver's clear view of highway or any intersecting highway. See Appendix C.

(D) Motor vehicle has any sign, poster or other non-transparent material on windshield or front side windows, other than officially approved and properly located parking stickers.

(E) Glass is shattered or broken or has any exposed sharp edges.

(F) Windshield is removed.

(G) There are any defects in acute area of windshield,-center of critical area on driver's side of vehicle directly in driver's normal line of vision, 8 _ inches wide and 5 1/2 inches high-or discolorations or hazardous cracks to front, right, left, or rear of driver which would interfere with driver's vision. See Appendix C.

(H) Class etchings, except those used for identification, are on windshield or front side windows.

(I) Glass etchings extend more than 3 inches

These regs are EXTREMELY vague and could be interpreted 10,000 different ways. I'm not sure how dark your tint is, but if it's 35% or lighter, it should be legal and you could fight it.

06-06-2015 04:11 AM

sailor

Older brother once told me "it ain't fair, but anything you do while driving or put on your car to draw attention is another reason you could get pulled over".

Gave the example of getting ticketed once for "crossing a solid line" from touching a white line. Excuse to pull over & check out a young guy driving late at night in that case was his evaluation later, after he complained to Dad & cooled off.

IIRC I was complaining about marginal speeding tickets in my sporty looking little red hatchback at the time.

06-06-2015 03:14 AM

Arco-Zakus

Quote:

Originally Posted by drifter2000

... A$$hole won't do his job chasing speeders, but pulls people over for tint.

So, if you take off the tint you get to speed? That's not such a bad trade.

06-05-2015 07:20 PM

TheHumbleGeek

You mean, like someone driving around with tinted windows threatening people? Or actually shooting people?

Just remember, its not a "real crime" to you, but to an officer who has been shot at by a vehicle with tinted windows, it IS a clear and present threat, irregardless of whether other vehicles have darker tint or not.

I know its frustrating, but also, keep in mind, you have no idea if those other vehicles with tint darker than yours ACTUALLY are getting away with it. For all you know, they may get as many tickets or more than you do for their tint. And to be truthful, yes, targeting tint can be frustrating for drivers, but police only enforce the laws as they are written by politicians. If you don't like the current tint law, get people to sign a petition to have the law changed.

Finally, YOUR attitude towards the officer can also play a HUGE factor in whether you even get a ticket or not. If you are polite, friendly and apologetic, you might not even get a ticket. If you cop an attitude, act like he should "go catch a donut instead of bothering you" or things like that, he'll come down harder.

06-05-2015 12:10 PM

drifter2000

That is where the issue is. In the state of Pa, the law states that it must allow 70% of light within the cabin of the vehicle. Then it also states as long as the cabin can be seen into, it is considered legal, I'm paraphrasing.

Mine was dark, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't as dark as others or some factory tinted windows. You could see me thru it, hell people would comment that it wasn't dark enough to hide the baby seat in the back. haha

I understand what you are saying, the problem I have is that an officer should be more concerned about actual issues that could cause accidents or people endangering others lives. Go catch a speeder, or a donut. If my only offense is that I have tint on my windows, leave me the hell alone.

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